Road committee says Army Corps offered guidance on West Shore Drive culvert; town to evaluate replacement options

Leslie Berlan, chair of the Road Committee, told the Board of Selectmen that a recent meeting with an Army Corps of Engineers representative provided “a lot of great information” about the West Shore Drive culvert and potential repair approaches. Berlan said she also received a letter from the Square Pond Association that included an attorney’s opinion and asked whether the town wanted its land-use attorney to provide a separate legal review.

Selectmen reviewed the letter and concluded it “pretty much explained” the town’s responsibilities and determined no additional legal inquiry was necessary. The Road Committee will now research feasible replacement options — including a stream crossing, replacing the culvert in kind, or using an approach similar to work done on Canal Road — and compile cost estimates and feasibility information for the board and town residents. In public comment, a West Shore Drive resident reiterated advice from the Army Corps that adding material to the bridge requires Corps approval and suggested exploring alternate access through privately owned land that may be for sale.

Why it matters: The culvert’s condition affects local access and long-term maintenance costs; the committee’s next step of compiling alternatives and costs will shape whether the town pursues permitting with the Army Corps or selects another engineering approach. The Road Committee asked the town to rely on the committee’s further research and cost breakdowns before any final decision.